French Open 2015: Rafael Nadal crushes Quentin Halys to reach the second round

Rafael Nadal plays a backhand in his win over Quentin Halys in the first round

9-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal got his campaign underway with a comfortable 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 win over Quentin Halys. The 18-year-old was visibly nervous playing against one of the best clay court players of all time.

He was broken in the very first game when his return went wayward. Nadal wasn’t troubled on his serve as he found as he quickly led to a 2-1 lead. Halys served two double faults in the fourth game to hand three break point chances which the Spaniard took to jump to a 4-1 lead. The youngster fought back in the next with a break point of his own when Nadal struggled to get his first serve in.

He jumped all over the Spaniard’s second serve and dominated the ensuing rally to break Nadal’s serve. However, Halys found himself two break points down in the ninth game. Nadal converted his second set point opportunity when Halys netted a return.

Halys won 0% on his second serve in the opening set.

Halys was beginning to enjoy the atmosphere in Philippe Chatrier as he held his serves in the first two games wthout much difficulty. He couldn’t keep up the same level as he found himself 0-30 down in the sixth game. Nadal fired a backhand winner down the line to earn his first break in the set. It was sufficient for the 14-time Grand Slam champion as he hit a forehand winner to lead by two sets to love.

The third set went on similar lines as Halys was not able to produce consistent tennis and was broken when he threw in an unforced error down a break point in the sixth game. Nadal closed out the match in the tenth game as an unreturnable first serve brought the Spaniard two match points. He needed only one as Halys netted his return.

Nadal will take on the winner of the match between Nicolas Almagro and Alexandr Dolgopolov.